They join the Barton Springs salamander and the Texas Blind salamander, both designated "endangered" by the federal government, and the San Marcos salamander, designated as "threatened."

The four salamander species are presently in danger of extinction throughout their range based on threats from habitat degradation, including reduced water quality and quantity and disturbance of spring sites.

Almost 6,000 acres in Travis, Williamson, and Bell counties would be marked as "critical habitat" under the proposal.